A Brief History of El Paso

A city shaped by mountains, molded by the river, and defined by the border.

El Paso’s story is one of resilience, reinvention, and the enduring power of connection. In A Brief History of El Paso, author Derek Monaghan brings the Sun City to life through a sweeping, cinematic narrative that spans centuries—from ancient Indigenous settlements to the modern binational metropolis.

Across ten immersive chapters, readers travel through the Pass of the North as it transforms from a natural corridor into a crossroads of empires, railroads, revolutions, and cultures. The book traces El Paso’s evolution through Spanish colonization, the Mexican-American War, the arrival of the railroad, the upheaval of the Mexican Revolution, the rise of Fort Bliss, and the challenges and triumphs of the 20th and 21st centuries.

With vivid storytelling and meticulous research, Monaghan captures the heartbeat of a city where histories converge and futures are forged. A Brief History of El Paso reveals how the borderlands endure—shaped by migration, conflict, creativity, and the unbreakable ties between El Paso and Ciudad Juárez.

Perfect for readers who enjoy:
• Engaging, narrative-driven history
• Stories of the American Southwest and U.
S.–Mexico borderlands
• Cultural, military, and urban history
• Cinematic nonfiction that reads like a novel

Whether you’re a lifelong El Pasoan, a student of history, or a curious traveler, this book offers a powerful, human portrait of a city that rises—again and again—from the desert with hope, strength, and possibility.